I am Dr. J. Scott Wieters, Director of Undergraduate Medical Education at Texas A&M: How I Work Smarter

Dr. J. Scott Wieters (@EMedCoach) is a community EM doc turned academician 4 years ago. Looks like Dr. Wieters found his calling. As the Director of Undergraduate Medical Education Texas A&M COM he has received his medical school’s teaching award 4 years yeas in a row, and it’s easy to see why. As a newly FOAMed convert, he has started contributing on the REBELEM blog and has shown some real speaking skills. This up and coming clinician educator was nominated by Dr. Ben Smith. Dr. Wieters took a few moments to graciously share his insights into work, life, and being efficient.

What’s your office workspace setup like?

At home it’s a zoo but fun. Being a husband and father of four is the most challenging yet rewarding job I’ve ever had. Sometimes my wife and I joke about who is going to leave the circus that is our home and take a break by going to work an ED shift.

What’s your best time-saving tip in the office or home?

We live in a resource rich environment. Leverage the skills, talents and efforts of the people and resources around you. We are all surrounded by bright energetic capable people. Include them at the idea table and then challenge them to see their potential. It might be the junior faculty looking for a niche or your ten year old wanting to build a tree house.

What’s your best time-saving tip regarding email management?

Liberal use of unsubscribe or ghost email if you must subscribe.

If you can, respond quickly to even the most menial email, do it immediately. You will never know how much even a short quick reply will mean to someone on the other end. If you know you can’t commit to something, quickly graciously decline. Don’t leave people hanging.

If something hits the bad side of your emotional meter, never respond immediately. Run it by a trusted mentor and carefully consider the perspectives of the sender in a good light before responding. Patience and perspective will save you more time in the long run than a quick “gotcha” reply.

Know the limits of email. Some conversations need to happen in person. You will save clean up time if you better discern what is appropriate for email and not. For example, if you want to create change at work, don’t just send a complaint email.

Use the 5:1 rule: Compliment 5 people (and cc their supervisor) before you criticize one. The tongue is sharper than any sword!

What’s your best time-saving tip in the ED?

Gladwell writes in Outliers about how experienced experts can make amazingly accurate decisions with little information. The concept of thin-slicing is a way to debulk an overwhelming ED. Later, go back and spend time after prioritizing your thin slices.

Any time you can make a disposition, put that process at the front of the queue. Sometimes you even need to lube the disposition with a little dilaudid to get them out the door 😉

Don’t look for the moments to teach, those are more about you. Instead, look for the learnable moments, that’s when it’s about the learner. That’s when learning gets rich!

ED charting: Macros or no macros?

Yes, but then I season it with a short blurb interjected. I intentionally don’t correct my misspellings when I freetype (which are frequent) that is further evidence that what I entered was not a polished rehearsed macro and my own thoughts.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about work, life, or being efficient?

Work

Some of my mentors:

“When you say ‘yes’ to something, you are also saying ‘no’ to something else” -Dr. Glen Brindley

“Just take care of the patient“ – Dr. David Morgan

The caring and inspiring words and spirit of the late Dr. Ben Chlapek. He came into every night shift saying out loud and then living his words “Can you believe they pay us to do this?”

I think the way Jesus rolled was pretty unique and is still a great example today. He took 11 average guys and inspired them to change the world. He hung out with the marginalized (prostitutes, homeless, sick) and opposed the arrogant. I’ll bet he would be a pretty awesome EM doc. Then again he’s a really tough act to follow.

Life

Value that which is most valuable, honor that which is most honorable and love that which is most lovely. Choose a partner that truly is your partner in life and has the same goals. Be on the same team. I have the most amazing wife in the galaxy! She respects, encourages and challenges me to see my potential. She cheers me on to show me what is possible and keeps my feet on the ground when I drift. She is my biggest fan and my most sharp critic. So much of my success is because of her sacrificial love.

Efficiency

Yes, you will need to be on some committees but not all. Don’t get sucked into every possible role. Learn and practice the art of gracefully declining and choosing your battles.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers?

Don’t waste your life. Time is our most valuable commodity. Do the work you are most passionate about and focus on the relationships you value most.

We all stand on someone’s shoulders. Learn how to graciously accept praise and credit those who helped you get there.

Creativity and preparation providentially meets opportunity at the most odd times. When this permutation happens, passionately jump in with both feet and give it all of your heart. This goes for time with family, friends and sometimes at work.

Who would you love for us to track down to answer these same questions?